Global change: biogeographical and geomorphological perspectives

Human-induced climate change, habitat fragmentation and loss as well as land use changes are global threats that are changing the atmosphere, climate, hydrology, biodiversity and even earth surface processes and ultimately landscapes. High-latitudes are experiencing rapid and significant change associated with climate warming. This places global change research at the centre of the international scientific agenda.

A key aim of the global change research of the Physical Geography Research Groups is to improve understanding and forecast the nature of change in the biogeographical and geomorphological systems, particularly at high-latitudes.

Possible changes in the structure and position of treeline ecotone and changes in species occurrence and patterns of biodiversity in space and time can be studied using species distribution modelling. When predicting changes in treeline ecotone we cannot simply use the changing temperature patterns alone, but we need to consider the complex interactions between biotic and abiotic factors. Hence, we need to build more complex and ecologically realistic models.

The novel modelling approaches (e.g. consideration of functional traits) and higher quality of data will significantly advance species distributions modelling. This will improve the understanding of sensitivity of subarctic tree-line to climate change.

Determination of the environmental factors controlling earth surface processes and landform patterns in cold regions is one of the central themes in periglacial geomorphology. Recently, novel statistical techniques and modelling methods have gained more attention in the field of periglacial geomorphology. Especially in the context of global change, spatial models are essential tools for assessing the impacts of changing environmental conditions on geodiversity and geomorphological processes.

Main objectives

To investigate the impacts of climate change on the high-latitude treeline ecotone and periglacial processes (e.g. permafrost)

To explore the spatial and temporal changes in high-latitude biodiversity patterns

To evaluate the accuracy, utility and feasibility of statistically-based spatial models in examining treeline ecotone and periglacial processes

Staff

Professor Jan Hjort

Dr. Janne Alahuhta

Researcher Henna Sormunen

Main collaborators

Professor Miska Luoto, Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, Finland

Professor Bernd Etzelmüller, Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, Norway